Situated on the beautiful coastline of the Bay of St. Tropez, between the Mediterranean sea and the wooded hills of the Massif des Maures, lies the delightful village of Les Issambres. North of the Argens valley, it forms part of the commune de Roquebrune-sur-Argens and is located in the Esquieres valley which it shares with St. Maxime. Development along the coast began in the 1930s and includes the villages of St. Aygulf and Val d’Esquieres which to some extent mirror their more famous neighbour, Sainte Maxime, offering a tranquil and relaxing holiday destination. Amongst the more modern buildings, there are still many traditional white-washed pantiled Provence homes and interesting architecture within narrow winding streets throughout the town.
Clearly visible from the sea, there are many inlets (calanques) and rocky coves along this coast but Les Issambres has several fine sandy beaches (with no rocks!) stretching for 8 kilometres, making it an ideal resort for families. For those who love strolling beside the sea, there is a public walkway to St. Tropez.
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Le Port des Issambres
In the heart of the Gulf of Saint Tropez, the port of Les Issambres offers everything you might need for a seaside vacation with space in the marina for 440 boats in a safe and secure environment.
The harbour is alive with boats and visitors can take a ferry (Les Bateaux Verts) to nearby Sainte Maxime or St. Tropez. The sailing centre offers yacht rentals and a variety of water activities including diving and snorkelling which are available all year round.
There are also a selection of well appointed shops including a post office, bank, a butcher, pharmacy and a small supermarket. Every Thursday there is a fish market and local produce markets are held weekly too. A visit to the Tourist Office right in the centre of town will give you all the up to date information you need to explore the region. Tennis courts are also available with spectacular views from the Club.
History
The beaches of St. Tropez, Les Issambres and St. Maxime were at the centre of Operation Dragoon. The history of the invasion and liberation of Southern France during World War II, which took place on 15 August 1944, is well documented. Near to La Garonette, there is a memorial of the beach landing, honouring the American troops.
Restaurants
There are a surprising number of reasonably priced good restaurants in Les Issambres and the surrounding villages where you can enjoy seafood, pizzas or just watch the world go by from the cafes along the seafront promenade. St. Aygulf has a choice of inexpensive places to eat on the main Square and St. Maxime is full of restaurants to cater for every taste. The dining scene in this special part of the Cote d’Azur is famous for its use of local produce and regional specialities and prior booking at some of the restaurants is recommended.
Accommodation
Les Issambres has a selection of hotels, villa rentals and apartments. The Hotel Club Vacanciel des Issambres above La Garonette beach (between St. Tropez and St. Raphael) has eye catching views across the bay with facilities for family comfort and recreation. Le Provencal is also a popular hotel by a sandy beach, 50 metres from the marina and 22 km from St. Tropez. Les Calanques includes a large outdoor sea-water swimming pool and a thalassotherapy centre.
Travel
By Road access is via the Autoroute du Soleil – La Provencale A8.
By Rail: The nearest direct rail link is to St. Raphael
By Air: Nice Cote d’Azur airport (80 kms) and Toulon-Hyeres Airport (90 kms).
